BENGHAZI, LIBYA ¨C Libyan eastern forces loyal to commander Khalifa Hifter announced on Saturday a cease-fire in the western region, which includes the capital, Tripoli, starting 00:01 a.m. on Sunday and the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) agreed to the truce.

Since April, Libyan National Army forces loyal to Hifter have been waging a campaign to take Tripoli, where they are battling forces aligned with the GNA.

In a statement posted online early on Sunday, the Tripoli based GNA said: ¡°In response to the Turkish president and the Russian president¡¯s call for a cease-fire, the head of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord announces a cease-fire starting 00:00 on Jan. 12.¡±

While the LNA had on Thursday rebuffed a call by Turkey and Russia for a cease-fire in a conflict that is drawing increasing foreign involvement and concern, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said in a video statement late on Saturday that the LNA accepted a truce in the west ¡°provided that the other party abides by the cease-fire.¡±

He warned that ¡°any breach will be met with a harsh response.¡±

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the truce and urged the warring parties ¡°to strictly abide by the cease-fire and make a room for peaceful efforts to address all disputes through a Libyan-Libyan dialogue.¡±

Turkey backs the Tripoli-based GNA headed by Fayez al-Serraj, while Russian military contractors have been deployed alongside the eastern forces.

A senior GNA official said on Thursday that it welcomed any credible cease-fire proposal but had a duty to protect Libyans from Hifter¡¯s offensive.

Any cease-fire will likely be hard to uphold after a recent escalation in fighting around Tripoli and the strategic coastal city of Sirte and given the fractious, loose nature of Libya¡¯s military alliances.

Forces loyal to Hifter said earlier in the week they had taken control of Sirte in a rapid advance preceded by airstrikes.

Earlier on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, adding that Libya¡¯s warring parties would need to play a major role to help find a solution.